backscratcher

Definitions

1. A long slender rod with a rake-like device on one end, sometimes in the form of a human hand, designed to let a person scratch their own back.
2. A participant in corruption, such as a briber or pay-to-play participant.
   figuratively, uncommon

Equivalents

Examples

“Pierre-Gilles had made a name⟳ for himself, but also wanted to give⟳ credit to his collaborators, whom he was always careful to cite in lectures, to the point⟳ that, for a joke, Daniel Saint-James and his colleague Gobalakichena Sarma created a "backscratchers club" named the 'Société de la brosse à reluire mutuelle' (SABRM) — mutual backscratching society — appointing Pierre-Gilles as its honorary chairman. The members of this club, which included the other musketeers, numerous physicists from Saclay, etc., were obliged to mention⟳ the other members in all their lectures, even if they hadn't contributed to the results!”

CEFR level